Submarine steering apparatus.



A. CITROEN.

SUBMARINE STEERING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. I9. 1913.

1 ,21 3, 1 53. Patented Jan. 23, 1917.

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A. CITROEN. SUBMARINE STEERING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 19. 1913- 1 ,21 3, 1 53 Patented Jan. 23, 1917.

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13 I 5' i /4' I WITNE f. x i NTOR A. CITROEN.

SUBMARINE STEERING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 19, I913- 7 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

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AKJMW A. CITROEN.

SUBMARINE STEERING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. I9, I913.

1,213,153. Patented Jan. 23,1917.

ISHEETS-SHEET 4- IN VEN TOR XwZTNE/sfls I 7 yum A. CITROEN.

SUBMARINE STEERING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED 059.191 1913- 15%1 3, 1 53. Patented Jan, 23, 1917.

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A. CITROEN.

SUBMARINE STEERING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 19. 1913- 1,213,153. Patented Jan. 23,1917.

ISHEETS-SHEET 6.

INVEN'I'OR 14% I yzm A fa /1 A. CITROEN. SUBMARINE STEERING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. I9, 1913- Patented Jan. 23, 1917.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ANDRE CITROEN, or PARIS, FRANCE, Assienonuio socmm' ANONYME'DES ENGRENAGES crrnomv, or PARIS, FRANCE, a coarona'rron or nuance.

sunaranmn ST ERING APPARATUSI Specification of Letters Patent To allwhom iii may concern: i

Be it known that I, Axnari Grrnonx, citizen of the French Republic, residing at Paris, Department of the Seme, in France,

, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Submarine Steering Apparatus; and I do hereby declare the following to'be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

In rudder controlling gear hitherto employed a definite or fixed ratio has generally existed bet-ween the movement of the driving member and the annular movements of the rudder shaft. In one type of control however, a very slight difference of ratio is afforded and this has been accomplished'by means of two nuts but this difference of have recourse to a separate engine for operating each rudder, the motors generally employed beingelectric and driven by batteries of accumulators presenting a very small internal resistance, which involves the inconvenience of making very large demands upon the current at each of the innumerable startings of the motors which are necessary during maneuvers. A further disadvantage resides in the fact that the steering rudder in such devices necessitates the employment of a more powerful motor than the motors for the immersion rudders.

The present invention has for its object to remedy these various defects by the modification of the ratio of the angular velocities of the rudder shaft, and the control member, in such a manner as to reduce the power necessary for the maneuver in the positions of the after piece of the rudder in which it is greatest and to permit of the employment of a single electric motor running continuously for independently operating a plurality of difi'erent rudders.

An embodiment of theinvention as applied to a submarine vessel is illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawing, in which: j 7

Figure 1 illustrates in vertical elevation, partly in section, the controlling mechanism for the steering rudders; Fig. 2 is a plan view, partly in section, of the construction Patented J an. 23, '7.

shown in Fig. 1; Fig; 3 is a vertical elevation of the controlling mechanism for the immersion rudders showing the horizontally disposed rudder shaft insection; Fig. tis a plan View, partlyin section, of theconstruction shown in Fig. 3 Fig. 5 is a more or less diagrammatic elevation, partlyin section, of

the actuating station from which the rudders are operated; Fig.6 is a more'or less difir' grammatic plan view of the construction shown in Fig. 5; Fig. 7 is a vertical' section,

taken on the line A.Aof Fig. 5; Fig. 8 isa front elevation of a portion of the controlling mechanism shown in Fig, 3, certain parts being broken away to show the locking pin hereinafter described;and Fig. 9 shows a plurality of curveslto be hereinafter described. 7 The couple to be overcome for operating; a rudder of rectangular cross-section" is given by the formula:

' i i L 1 2 CvKSV O L 0.-2-0.3.sin. in which K is a constant coefficient, S the surface of the after, piece of the rudder, V

the velocity of the ship, L the length of the after piece of the rudder and L the distance between the'axis of the rudder shaft and the front edge of the after piece of the rudder.

The angle 5 varies between'Oand 33 as a 1 larger angle produces no greater cfiect in changing the direction of the ship. The couple therefore increases with the angle '5.

In the device in accordance with the present invention the control does not act upon the rudder shaft itself through a transmission with a constant velocity ratio in order, that the demands madeupon the operating motor may not be excessive when the angler approaches its maximum. The rudder shaft 1 carries an arm 2 which isprovided with a slot. In this slot afslide block 3 travels; this block receives the trunnion or stud 4: of a member '5 forming a crank and rotating around anau'xiliary shaft 6. This member 5 receives the mechanical control of constant angular velocity, either through 'an endless screw and worm wheel, as indicated or by mlter geanwheels, comprlsmg a pinlon 7 with a very small number. of teeth out in its .1.

shaft and meshing with a sector 5' also provided with miter teeth and rigid with the member 5. This pinion 7 or the endless screw (as the case may be) are controlled by bevel 'pinions which are also provided .with

miter teeth 8-9 which permit of connecting the apparatus with ali'rie of shafting" Cardanjoi'nts 10 Connectin up the motor and to the actuating devicehereinafter de scribed. 3

The slot in arm 2 and the crank 5 are arranged in such a manner'that, for the maximum angle of inclinationof the after piece of the rudder to the axis of the ship, the block 3 of the stud l is situated at the; ext're'niity of the slotinarm 2 th'e afXis" of the slot marina and orthemembert' being substantially' perpendicular as represented in Fig- 2. It follows'that the coupilenecessary for the operation -isnil, apart from friction not oiily'ili the-axial o'sitio n ofthe" arifl 2 in whiclfthe arigle i is zel'iigblit disd in its 6X tre'meposition; Bet'WeeIithese two positiofis this eouple passes through a' 'maximuih value which is less? than the maximum value of the couple upon the rudder'shaft proper;

The" calculation based upon the relative velocitiesof the rudder shaft 1- and of the arixiliaryshaft e shows that'- up on" the aiiiiilmy shaft the meantime eou ie (whose wrvem is represent'ed in Fig. 9 as 1* rune tion of the inclinations of the after iece; of the rudder to the iii-is of" the ship) is" but very little greater than ofiedialf the couple upon the rudder shaft, the mute ofxi' hich is indicated at m in Fig. 9; The ratio of the angularvelocities of the auxiliary shaft 6 and of the rudder shaft is not constant. If the H dden shaft 1* were directly controlled, andif' its angular velocity, which would consequently be constant (in which case would be represented by the straight line 0) \ViQL pBriSeCOH Cl, a'ndif th device in t0- c'o'fdance with the present invention were applied, notwithstandingthe great reduction of the-motor couple,*the angular velocity'would' be=raised to 6 per second in the" axial position and diminish nogr'essivsly. For an angle of 20 it-Wouldbe e for example and l 36 for anf angle of 30 and would only bec mezere fo'r an angle @33 The curve of this" angular'veloc'ity is'indi eatedby the line 0. Fi-nally,-in proceeding ffi'om-the asial position, the necessary duratidnindic'ated by the curve 2," upon the same fi ure iiiorder' to" attain a givenangular position, is'less' than it would be with the ordinary control systelngthis duration being representedg by the curve t; as far as" the angle of 30" approximately, after which it would" become greater; The cal'culati'on that has been-'- given has been established for the" value of theratio In the" aeeempeayaigi' drawings; meme-- wingers-nig for? ee iiemersio maaer'is alsoillhstrated iiflthprdportitinall central bymeme of miter gens snnina to those'snewsin Figs. 1 and 2 for the; steering rudder. A a

factor which constitutes a characteristic common to the two types of actu'atlon, 1s

that the constituent elements are all support ed bv a frame 11, 11 resting upon the rudder shaft itself by means of two bearings 12,

12- in such a manner that the position of the several elements of" the transmission, the extentto which the gears mesh and so forth cannot be influenced by the deformations of the' hull as would be the case if each of the several elements were supported by a support fixed separatel 'v' to the hull. By the employmlent'of this frame, which would rotatefreely about the-rudder shaft; there would be nothing to constitute a point of support for the transmission of the strain. The frame 1'1,

11 carrie's'lugs 13, 13' to which rodslehlt V are pivoted; these rods bear upon the hull either by the interme'dia'ry'of a set of Belle; ville washers or by' the intermediary ofQa hydro-pneumatic brake cylinder 16' Fig. 2)

The Washers of the hydro-pneumatic brake are adjusted to absorb the Values of the couple around the rudder shaft exceedin a mass of Water or the] Waves acting'upon the after piece of the rudder will momentarily" produce agreater couple the-x 'alue'of which cannot be exactly foreseen and from \vhichthe parts'mustbe protected in order to insure their preservation. The employment of the hydro-pneumatic brake, or of the Belle'ville Washers upon the anchoring rods,' permits of absorbing these couples directly. The afterpiece of the rudder then ieltlsto'them and when the cross wave'ha's passed; it returns by the, elasticity ofthe washers or of theair to its previous position. The employment of this device 1s*part'icularly useful for the steering rudder which is employed when maneuvering onfthe surface". As regards the immersion rudders;

during immersion they have not to with-j stand' the impact of any'waves' as they are eompleteiy immersed and,- during navigation" on' the surface; theycan be locked by pin .15

(Fig; 3) in suit-ably selected angular position in" which they constitute bilge heels and, when running at high speeds tenure raise the shjip iii the Water in a] favorable position for obtaining a high velocity With asmaller e'zipehditui'e' of energy, During" immersion the pins 15 are removed andthey' need only be" placed in position for surface navigation and in bad weather, or when nail'igatingon the surface at full speedi The common control of the several rud- 'de'rs (Figs. 5, 6 and 7 of a submarine in accordance with the present invention, is

effected by means of asingle electric motor 17; nevertheless as a measure of precaution a second motor 17 may be provided as reserve and run constantly with half lead simultaneously with the first motor; in case of injury one of these motors can be run coupled.

By the intermediary of a resilient clutch sleeve each of these motors drives a speed reducing gear 18-l9. The shaft20 of the low speed wheel 19 receives a bevel pinion '21 which meshes with two bevel pinions 22-23 loose upon a shaft but each of which is rigid with a cylindrical gear wheel 2%25. By means of a series of cylindrical intermediate gear wheels, these gear wheels which rotate in opposite directions, drive gear wheels 26-27 loose upon the shafts 28. The gear wheels 26-'27 are provided with steel spirals 29-30 forming part of a double progressive clutch, these spirals are arranged to drivea collar 31 keyed upon the shaft 28 and with this object a collar 32, operated by a fork 33, a nut 31- and a screw integral with a fly wheel. and crank 36,

presses one or other of the spirals against the collar, according to the direction in which it is displaced.

The shaft carries a bevel pinion 37 which drives a second gear wheel 38 keyed upon the extremity of the line of shafting and of Cardan joints which drives the pinion operating the apparatus mounted upon the shaft of the rudder. The shaft 28 carries a hand-wheel of large diameter which provides for operating the rudder by hand, in case both the motors 17, 17 should be come inoperative. Every rudder control being similarly arranged, Fig. 5 represents a station comprising four mechanisms, one for the steering rudder and three for the immersion rudders.

It pair of the intermediate gear wheels above mentioned are adapted to be thrown out of operation to throw the actuating means for all of the immersion rudders out of o )cration when the motor 17 is being used. These gears are shown at 4:0 and are mounted to swing about the axis of the In one extreme position of the gears l0. they mesh with the gears QT, and in the other extreme position, cv are out of mesh with said gears 26-27. they swing about the axis of the gears -'.,:25, they are obviously always in mesh with these gears 2495. When the motor l? is being used alone, and the gears 40 are in their operative position, it is obvious that all of the rudders may be operated from the motor 17. llhen said gears 40 are in their inoperative position, however, only the steering rudders can be operated through the intermediary of the shaft 10 from the ating mechanism for the immersion rudders.

l 'urthermru'e, when the gears 40 are in their operative position, there is a continuous train of gearing between each motor and all of the Cardan shafts which ope ate the rudders. Therefore, either motor may be used to actuate all of the rudders.

it will be understood that in addition to the four operating mechanisms represented, identical mechanisms can he provided for actuating the periscopes. the capstan, and so forth.

All the gears of the operating station are mountedbetween two parallel frames 4:1'l2 arranged longitudinally against the wall of the station. Tell-tale signals can be installed above each operating gear to notify the helmsman of the actual position of the after pieces of the rudders. lVhen, as shown in the example illustrated, the con trol is by gear-wheels and not by screws. locking devices should be interposed to prevent the al'ter pieces of the rudders from shifting when the hand control has been released or the electric control thrown out. For the steering mechanismof a submarine,

which is generally located in a water ballast tank accessible to the sea water, the locking mechanism i3 15 arranged immediately after the stufling box in which the transmission shaft passes through the inner hull, while for the immersion mechanisms this locking mechanism is rendered integral with the. frame and the driving pinion because the immersion mechanisms are located entirely in the inner hull.

The invention is not limited to the con structional forms illustrated and it comprises in particular all controls for the main piece of the rudder in which the angular velocity of the latter is not proportionate to that of the control member. For example the slot gear can be replaced by an eccentric or a cam system of any appropriate construction.

I claim:

1. In steering mechanism for ships and the like, the combination with a rudder shaft, of a frame mounted on the shaft, actuating mechanism for said shaft supported by the frame, and means to brace the frame and prevent the same from. freely swinging about the axis of said shaft.

In steering mechanism for ships and the like. the combination with a rudder shaft, of a frame mounted on the shaft, actuating mechanism for said shaft supported by the frame, and means to yieldingly brace the frame and prevent the same from freely swinging about the axis of said shaft.

3. In combination with a submarine or the like. of a series of rudders for steering and submergin'g, and a motor for controlling each or all of said rudders separately or simultaneously L- In combination with a sulnnarine or the like, of steering and suhmerging rudders, a motor for operating each or all of said rudders through their respective actu ating means. said means comprising a main rudder shaft. means to impart relatively slow movements to the rudder shaft when the resistance oti'ered thereby is relatively great and to impart taster movements to said rudder shat't when the resistance 01 tered therebv is relatirel small.

In eomlj ination with a suhinarine or the like, a series of steering and submerging rudders, motor for operating each or all of said rudders through their respective actuating means. said means comprising a main rudder shaft, an auxiliary rudder shaft. means to impart a constant angular.

velocity to the auxiliary shaft, connections Copies of this patent may be obtalned'for five cents each. by addressing'thc Commissioner of Patents;

Washington; D. 6.", 

